The PV array is assembled!

Today was a very productive day! Our photovoltaic (PV) system is fully assembled and we will be able to have power tomorrow (as soon as we install a temporary patch on our roof from the shipping damage). We started with three UTEP workers and we grew to a total of nine after our UPi partners arrived. Having strong backs is a good thing when you are unloading and placing 40-pound solar panels and 25-pound bricks!

I made a (somewhat cheesy-I'm an engineer, not a producer...) video for you to visualize the steps involved in building the array. The first bit we did yesterday (placed the bays and a single block). Today, we placed the wires close to where the connections would be on the array. Next, we unloaded the panels from the container and then placed them on the bays. We did this one panel at a time so that we could make the electrical connection at that time to minimize crawling on the ground. Next, the bolts are tightened to secure the panels to the bays. The final step is to place the remaining blocks on the bays to secure them for wind and other disturbances. A serious downpour occurred today when we had three panels remaining, so we took cover inside the container. Here's a video for you to see the steps.

I should tell you a bit about our PV sytem. It was designed and installed (with UTEP student help) by Solar Smart Living, LLC. Solar Smart Living designs and installs residential and commercial PV systems and they have worked with us since the Desal Prize last year. Javier Perea and Larry Perea have helped us out with the renewable energy learning curve. This is the first PV system our team has worked with and there are many things to learn in the design, installation, and operation. The PV system includes 39 panels (originally 42 - before the broken panels) and can produce up to 9.75 kW at peak conditions (down from 10.5 kW). The panels feed a set of breakers, then a set of charge controllers, which allow power to flow to our desalination system and/or the batteries. An inverter is used to convert DC power produced by the panels into AC power, which is used by the desalination system. In addition, some of the pumps used by our desalination system are fed directly from the batteries since they have DC motors (more on this in a later post). Our load is around 2-2.5 kW, depending on whether we have lights on and also depends on which pumps are on at the time.

I'll conclude today's post with a group picture. It was a long and very productive day. Thanks to all that helped us get to where we are today! Tomorrow we will start the installation of piping and equipment connections.

Our team at the end of the day. Picks up! Go MINERS!